Your Right Hand

This fact may surprise you but it is estimated that 85-90% of people are right-handed! Having no dominant hand is exceptionally rare, representing roughly 1% of the population. David wrote, "I have set the LORD continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory (my innermost self) rejoices; my body too will dwell [confidently] in safety." (Psalm 16:8-9 AMP). In Scripture, the "right hand" often signifies a place of honor or authority. David testifies with his words that all honor and authority belong to The Lord. It is God Who is David's firm foundation, Who gladdens David's heart, it is in The LORD that David knows complete safety. Paul says it like this: "And what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us, the ones believing according to the working of His mighty strength which He worked in Christ in raising Him from the dead, and He seated Him at His right hand in the heavenlies, far above all principality and authority and power and dominion, and every name being named, not only in this world, but also in the coming age." (Ephesians 1:19-21 ESV). Jesus, seated at the right hand of The Father, is The One before Whom we are humbled; it is He we exalt by submitting to His Authority. In Him we are unshakable, joyful, safe and secure. Truly, it doesn't matters whether you are right-handed, left-handed or ambidextrous. What matters is that you keep Jesus at your right hand always.

The Best Somebody

We all know, of course, the truest treasures of this life aren't things at all! It's not uncommon, however, to own "things" that have value. Unfortunately, too many times we seem to value the tangible things too much, hold them too tightly and close to our hearts. David wrote in Psalm 16, "I said to the LORD, 'You are my Lord; I have no good besides You.'" (V.2 AMP). A more literal translation of David's words to God is ... there is nothing pleasant, agreeable, valuable, excellent, good, prosperous, beneficial nor  better than The Lord. He understood the very best of himself was The Lord Himself. How is it possible to know such a thing? One answer ... humility. David's words will never be our words unless we see ourselves less and God more. John the Baptist said of Jesus, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30 ESV).  It's a daily bowing of self to The One Who longs to lift us above all we face in this life. "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you" (James 4:10 ESV). You see, the need to exalt ourselves is Satan's strategy and we've believed it far too long. It is the world's advice to promote yourself if you ever want to "be somebody." The child of God already IS somebody - rescued and on the way to glory; Christ has become the Good in us and when we are little and He is big in us - that's the best somebody we will ever be. Be your ... best somebody!

Refuge

This is the time of year for weather emergencies! We are warned to have a plan, which includes a strong safe place. David wrote, "Keep and protect me, O God, for in You I have placed my trust and found refuge." (Psalm 16:1 AMP). David's prays for help in the present tense indicating a here-and-now need but the latter part of his prayer refers to a previous time when God provided for him. Isn't that how it typically works? At some point we place our trust in something; it performs well ... or not. That experience results in a trust in that which we proved trustworthy. Throughout David's life, he turned to God as his refuge - in times of fear, anxiety, failure - over and over David sought God as his refuge, his strong and safe place. Why did he keep returning to The Lord? Because Jehovah never once failed him! God's performance was perfect and unfailing. Perhaps you're in a place right now where you have put too much faith and trust in people, and they have failed to live up to your expectations. These experiences can be frustrating and discouraging. "I will lift up my eyes to the hills - from where shall my help come? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; He Who keeps you will not slumber." (Psalm 121:1-3 AMP). Trust wisely: it is The Lord alone Who is strong and safe ... find your refuge in Him.

Sacrifice of Self

Bedtime is sweet after a long, hard day - comfy clothes, soft pillow, feet-off-the-floor. Those first moments of lying horizontal are welcomed and ... yes, sweet. Hebrews 13:16 says, "Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." Doing good never saved a soul - never will; but, our good works are a result of our acknowledging what Jesus has already done for us. "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." One thing I've discovered is that the hindrance to my doing good is ... me. I'd much rather do good to-and-for myself, which conflicts with what the sacrifice God calls me to. In her book, The Quiet Place, Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth writes, "God asks us to offer up our lives and daily circumstances as a living sacrifice, signifying our wholehearted consecration and surrender to the One Who gave His life for us." This happens only when we are willing to set aside ourselves throughout the course of a day. Mister Bill and I have a habit of lying down mid-day; that brief time of feet-off-the-floor rejuvenates and inspires us for the hours yet to come. The sacrifice God calls for is that relinquishing of self and its agenda to "share" with others what God has given and done us. When we have put the sacrifice-of-self on the altar unto God, we become useful to Him. "By the mercies of God ... present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." (Romans 12:1 ESV). Don't just lay yourself down at the end of the day - make a habit of laying-you-down over and over throughout the day. Practice ... sacrifice of self.

A Different Spirit

Each one of my boys are different. As infants, it was fun watching their personalities emerge. Now, it's just as fun watching their children - my grandchildren - and each one's uniqueness. I love what Scripture says about this man: "But My servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it." (Numbers 14:24 NASB). Caleb was different from others - something set him apart. That word different implies no hesitation nor delay nor hindrance. We know from earlier verses that Caleb (and Joshua), two of the twelve spies to Canaan, stood firm before the people that they should trust The Lord as they faced strong fortified cities and giants in the land. By Caleb's courageous testimony declared his complete trust in God fulfilling His promise to His people. He was different, unique and his bravery mattered to The Lord. Oh, how we need more Believers who are of a "different spirit" - a boldness about them! Those who choose righteousness over sin, who willingly speak truth in the presence of lies, who practice obedience in midst of rebellion, who faithfully do what is right in the sight of The Lord. Unlike his generation, Caleb (and Joshua) tasted the sweetness of the Promised Land, as did his descendants! The choices we make today influence tomorrow, they matter; and, there's nothing wrong with being different than the world. Actually, the blessed of God will be of ... a different spirit.